Skymaster 1/5 Scale F16 Build Thread
#327
My Feedback: (20)
Not much progress this week. Homeowner chores and repairs took time priority.
I did get LEF servo wires installed. Made servo plug keeper in wing root from a piece of bicycle tire inner tube punched with hole punch and glued inside the wing root. Keeper stops servo plug from slipping back inside fuse but makes it easy to take it in and out if necessary. Cable clips keep servo wire from getting under the side saddle fuel tank. Servo wire slips inside the cable sleeve and goes to forward fuse to the servo power board.
I did get LEF servo wires installed. Made servo plug keeper in wing root from a piece of bicycle tire inner tube punched with hole punch and glued inside the wing root. Keeper stops servo plug from slipping back inside fuse but makes it easy to take it in and out if necessary. Cable clips keep servo wire from getting under the side saddle fuel tank. Servo wire slips inside the cable sleeve and goes to forward fuse to the servo power board.
#328
Not much progress this week. Homeowner chores and repairs took time priority.
I did get LEF servo wires installed. Made servo plug keeper in wing root from a piece of bicycle tire inner tube punched with hole punch and glued inside the wing root. Keeper stops servo plug from slipping back inside fuse but makes it easy to take it in and out if necessary. Cable clips keep servo wire from getting under the side saddle fuel tank. Servo wire slips inside the cable sleeve and goes to forward fuse to the servo power board.
I did get LEF servo wires installed. Made servo plug keeper in wing root from a piece of bicycle tire inner tube punched with hole punch and glued inside the wing root. Keeper stops servo plug from slipping back inside fuse but makes it easy to take it in and out if necessary. Cable clips keep servo wire from getting under the side saddle fuel tank. Servo wire slips inside the cable sleeve and goes to forward fuse to the servo power board.
Our EZ clips are a bit better suited for this job:
We also now have our Ultimate Servo Connectors available in 3 wire configuration for single servo with panel mount tabs to screw the female plug on a vertical surface.
They are 4 times cheaper than the Emcotec ewC solution and fully MIL spec certified against vibrations, heat and corrosion. Certified for 5000 insertion/ extraction cycles and continuous current of 15A per pin.
http://www.ultimate-jets.net/collect...ervo-connector
#330
My Feedback: (20)
Hi Oli,
I got a batch of the EZ clips on my last order. I just did not think of them. I was using the slotted clips for air lines and just used them. The grey material really sticks with CA very well.
Gary
I got a batch of the EZ clips on my last order. I just did not think of them. I was using the slotted clips for air lines and just used them. The grey material really sticks with CA very well.
Gary
#331
I am glad some people use this and like it!
#332
My Feedback: (20)
More progress made today
Air lines install for all systems, gear, doors, canopy, speed brakes. Smoke nozzle installed on turbine clamp mount.
Fuel tank plumbing finished. 1/4" ID screw in fuel stoppers and clunks are from Ultimate Jets. 1/4" ID Viton and brass tubing used inside fuel tanks. Tygon tubing inside smoke tank. Tanks ready for underwater leak checks.
Thanks for the help Oli.
Air lines install for all systems, gear, doors, canopy, speed brakes. Smoke nozzle installed on turbine clamp mount.
Fuel tank plumbing finished. 1/4" ID screw in fuel stoppers and clunks are from Ultimate Jets. 1/4" ID Viton and brass tubing used inside fuel tanks. Tygon tubing inside smoke tank. Tanks ready for underwater leak checks.
Thanks for the help Oli.
Last edited by Viper1GJ; 08-09-2016 at 05:49 PM.
#333
My Feedback: (20)
All tanks passed the under water leak tests. Fuel, smoke, and turbine systems installed in rear fuse section. Receiver, batteries, and air systems are in the front fuse section. Only air and servo connections between the front and rear fuse sections are needed.
Ultimate Jets 1/4" ID fuel vent and smoke tank vent installed on bottom of fuse.
Fuel and smoke vent line connected inside fuse.
All fuel and smoke plumbing crammed into small area under rear canopy. Not much way to dress it up and keep smooth radius turns with the 1/4" ID Tygon tubing for four tanks and vents. Servo leads on left and right sides.
Looking forward with Intake tube and smoke tank removed. All fuel, smoke, air plumbing and wiring must run on either side of the intake tube.
Fuel and smoke service panel behind smoke tank (removed) with GSU terminal on left.
B300F turbine installation.
Ultimate Jets 1/4" ID fuel vent and smoke tank vent installed on bottom of fuse.
Fuel and smoke vent line connected inside fuse.
All fuel and smoke plumbing crammed into small area under rear canopy. Not much way to dress it up and keep smooth radius turns with the 1/4" ID Tygon tubing for four tanks and vents. Servo leads on left and right sides.
Looking forward with Intake tube and smoke tank removed. All fuel, smoke, air plumbing and wiring must run on either side of the intake tube.
Fuel and smoke service panel behind smoke tank (removed) with GSU terminal on left.
B300F turbine installation.
Last edited by Viper1GJ; 08-13-2016 at 07:28 PM.
#335
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Piney Flats, TN
Posts: 40
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Awesome, clean work. I like the blue colored tube, apparently for your smoke. Is that a easily purchased product? Also three valves, one for smoke and one for fuel. What is the third valve for?
#336
My Feedback: (20)
Rod,
Thanks for the kind words.
The blue tubing is Aerotrend Easy Flex tubing. I don't know if it is still available. I got a roll 15 years ago from the local hobby shop and I just ran out. If you find some let me know. I need some more.
The left valve is fuel master. The right valve is smoke oil shut off. The center valve is fuel fill shut off to keep air from entering air trap tank after disconnecting the fuel fill line. The blue line with fuel dot is smoke oil fill. The GSU terminal is on the bottom in the photo.
Thanks
Gary
Thanks for the kind words.
The blue tubing is Aerotrend Easy Flex tubing. I don't know if it is still available. I got a roll 15 years ago from the local hobby shop and I just ran out. If you find some let me know. I need some more.
The left valve is fuel master. The right valve is smoke oil shut off. The center valve is fuel fill shut off to keep air from entering air trap tank after disconnecting the fuel fill line. The blue line with fuel dot is smoke oil fill. The GSU terminal is on the bottom in the photo.
Thanks
Gary
#337
My Feedback: (20)
Front and rear fuse sections mated together.
Front fuse servo wires and air lines ready for connection. Lines routed behind air tanks and tucked into the inside of the front fuse wing strakes.
Projet Hornet ECU mounted on left side of center fuel tank. Emotec 740 HV smoke pump mounted on right side of center fuel tank.
Wires and air lines run from front of fuse to rear section on left and right sides. ECU battery and air service panel under nose radome. Switches will go there also.
Front and rear fuse sections finally fastened together with 8 bolts. Initial tests show that all servos are working properly.
Paper towel flag on pitot tube screw shaft to keep me from breaking it off moving around the table.
Air system tests next.
Front fuse servo wires and air lines ready for connection. Lines routed behind air tanks and tucked into the inside of the front fuse wing strakes.
Projet Hornet ECU mounted on left side of center fuel tank. Emotec 740 HV smoke pump mounted on right side of center fuel tank.
Wires and air lines run from front of fuse to rear section on left and right sides. ECU battery and air service panel under nose radome. Switches will go there also.
Front and rear fuse sections finally fastened together with 8 bolts. Initial tests show that all servos are working properly.
Paper towel flag on pitot tube screw shaft to keep me from breaking it off moving around the table.
Air system tests next.
#338
My Feedback: (20)
Fuse placed between two tables and air systems pumped up and tested. Believe it or not, no leaks. The gear and brakes held air for several hours. All air gauges showed full pressure after 2 hours, tested in gear up and gear down, brakes on and off, and speed brake open and closed. Angle gauges used to set flight control deflections.
Switches installed and connected to A123 flight batteries.
Intake tube installed, smoke tank installed, service panel installed, B300F turbine and wing spar bridge installed. Air trap tank viewed through the rear canopy hatch. I am really glad I made the rear hatch. It would have been much more difficult to install all the stuff with out that access.
Last edited by Viper1GJ; 08-16-2016 at 07:14 PM.
#340
My Feedback: (20)
I finally got around to fixing my screw up from post #251 on 4/12/16 where I cut off the ball drive stud too short.
I found with my servo mounting and SWB arms I could use three washers under the ball and the threads fully extended through the servo arm and did not need to be cut off on the back side. The ball is now fully seated in the recessed drive slot in the flaperon root section and there is clearance between the fuse side and the ball stud on the back side.
I found with my servo mounting and SWB arms I could use three washers under the ball and the threads fully extended through the servo arm and did not need to be cut off on the back side. The ball is now fully seated in the recessed drive slot in the flaperon root section and there is clearance between the fuse side and the ball stud on the back side.
#341
My Feedback: (20)
Every thing was fully assembled and weight and balance calculations made. Results not good. Nose heavy.
My initial calculations showed nose weight needed to get to proper CG. I overdid it and did not check during the layout of stuff. With everything assembled in the nose the spread sheet showed I was 40mm nose heavy from target CG of 280 from LE.
I will go back and move batteries aft and possibly air tanks to the rear and should be able to get the proper CG with out adding any weight.
Always something...
My initial calculations showed nose weight needed to get to proper CG. I overdid it and did not check during the layout of stuff. With everything assembled in the nose the spread sheet showed I was 40mm nose heavy from target CG of 280 from LE.
I will go back and move batteries aft and possibly air tanks to the rear and should be able to get the proper CG with out adding any weight.
Always something...
Last edited by Viper1GJ; 08-16-2016 at 07:14 PM.
#343
My Feedback: (20)
Thanks Jamie, It should be a good one when it gets going.
I made several runs on the CG spreadsheet today. It looks like the best option is to move the air tanks to the fuse rear section just behind the turbine and under the thrust tube. The ECU battery will move to the left wing root abeam the turbine. The flight batteries will be in the right wing root abeam the turbine or possibly in the front fuse wing strakes abeam the air trap tank depending on the final CG checks.
The power board with receiver, Cortex and Sbus decoders will move from the nose to just under the pilot seat. This will help tame the rats nest that was in front of the cockpit tub and make it easier to get to the electronics for service. All this will require major changes in the front fuse section so I stripped it clean for a complete redo. Hopefully will get it sorted out in a week.
Gary
I made several runs on the CG spreadsheet today. It looks like the best option is to move the air tanks to the fuse rear section just behind the turbine and under the thrust tube. The ECU battery will move to the left wing root abeam the turbine. The flight batteries will be in the right wing root abeam the turbine or possibly in the front fuse wing strakes abeam the air trap tank depending on the final CG checks.
The power board with receiver, Cortex and Sbus decoders will move from the nose to just under the pilot seat. This will help tame the rats nest that was in front of the cockpit tub and make it easier to get to the electronics for service. All this will require major changes in the front fuse section so I stripped it clean for a complete redo. Hopefully will get it sorted out in a week.
Gary
#344
My Feedback: (86)
Gary,
Great work man!
Sounds like all of your placement changes are almost exact to where I ended up with my batteries and my Cortex too. I was able to keep the air tanks just behind the cockpit opening but created battery sleds on both sides of the wing root areas.
Finish her up!
Rex
Great work man!
Sounds like all of your placement changes are almost exact to where I ended up with my batteries and my Cortex too. I was able to keep the air tanks just behind the cockpit opening but created battery sleds on both sides of the wing root areas.
Finish her up!
Rex
#345
My Feedback: (20)
CG Update:
I have now installed the ECU battery in the left wing root behind the fuel tank abeam the turbine. The flight batteries are in the right wing root abeam the turbine. The electronics board, RX, Cortex etc is moved back and is under the pilots seat. Air tanks are in forward fuse behind cockpit. Air valves are still in the nose ahead of the cockpit and air service panel is in under the radome.
The current empty CG with air trap tank full is 282mm from the wing leading edge. I would like to get the CG as far aft as possible to help with high AOA, slow flight, and still be stable and easy to land. I can easily move the air valves and air tanks get CG further aft. Now would be the time to do it.
Is there is anybody flying the SM 1/5 scale F-16 with the empty CG aft of 280mm. I read somewhere about 290-305mm aft of the wing leading edge
Is there anybody doing that and if so how does it handle.
Thanks
Gary
I have now installed the ECU battery in the left wing root behind the fuel tank abeam the turbine. The flight batteries are in the right wing root abeam the turbine. The electronics board, RX, Cortex etc is moved back and is under the pilots seat. Air tanks are in forward fuse behind cockpit. Air valves are still in the nose ahead of the cockpit and air service panel is in under the radome.
The current empty CG with air trap tank full is 282mm from the wing leading edge. I would like to get the CG as far aft as possible to help with high AOA, slow flight, and still be stable and easy to land. I can easily move the air valves and air tanks get CG further aft. Now would be the time to do it.
Is there is anybody flying the SM 1/5 scale F-16 with the empty CG aft of 280mm. I read somewhere about 290-305mm aft of the wing leading edge
Is there anybody doing that and if so how does it handle.
Thanks
Gary
#347
My Feedback: (20)
Finished "Plan B" equipment install today. Much better than the first attempt. RC stuff easier to get to and the "rats nest" is much neater. Also the CG is in the good range, estimated now between 280mm and 290mm from LE with no extra weight. I will get a final check after the front fuse is mated to the aft fuse and everything is finally assembled.
Rx board, pneumatic board, and brake valve moved back under cockpit tub.
Left and right side cables and air tubes.
Now only air service panel under the nose. Switches are moved to turbine access area.
ECU battery now mounted in left wing root abeam the turbine.
Flight batteries, switches, and charge panel now in right wing root abeam the turbine.
Everything connected for testing. Everything worked, air systems held pressure, and then I connected the GSU to the ESC terminal….
GSU had random screens, searching for connections, connected to #00000 model #000, random beeping sounds, nothing working. Got out the manual, could find no displays like I was getting. After 20 min of searching, thinking, pushing buttons I got no where. Sick feeling in gut. Something is really wrong…then I look up and see the turbine is sitting on the work table by the wall!
After I awarded myself the dummy of the day award again, I connected the turbine and it is working perfectly, learn RC complete and all test menus functional. Yea. Just gotta hook it up!
Will run cold fuel system tests before I mate the fuse together. This will allow me to observe the fuel tanks, lines, pump, filter, and air trap during the tests. Then it will be final assembly, CG checks empty, with full fuel, and with full fuel and smoke oil. Then final radio programming, tethered turbine runs, range checks, and back yard taxi tests.
Getting close.
Gary
Rx board, pneumatic board, and brake valve moved back under cockpit tub.
Left and right side cables and air tubes.
Now only air service panel under the nose. Switches are moved to turbine access area.
ECU battery now mounted in left wing root abeam the turbine.
Flight batteries, switches, and charge panel now in right wing root abeam the turbine.
Everything connected for testing. Everything worked, air systems held pressure, and then I connected the GSU to the ESC terminal….
GSU had random screens, searching for connections, connected to #00000 model #000, random beeping sounds, nothing working. Got out the manual, could find no displays like I was getting. After 20 min of searching, thinking, pushing buttons I got no where. Sick feeling in gut. Something is really wrong…then I look up and see the turbine is sitting on the work table by the wall!
After I awarded myself the dummy of the day award again, I connected the turbine and it is working perfectly, learn RC complete and all test menus functional. Yea. Just gotta hook it up!
Will run cold fuel system tests before I mate the fuse together. This will allow me to observe the fuel tanks, lines, pump, filter, and air trap during the tests. Then it will be final assembly, CG checks empty, with full fuel, and with full fuel and smoke oil. Then final radio programming, tethered turbine runs, range checks, and back yard taxi tests.
Getting close.
Gary
#348
Looking great Gary. I'm not far behind you. Does your nose gear steering work? Mines seems to have some sort of hydraulic lock and the cylinder that the servo attaches too won't move by hand so there's no way a servo will drive it.
Cheers
Levi
Cheers
Levi
#349
Build is looking good, but why have all of those separate air fill valves and gauges. Combine all of that in one. Save yourself weight, air leaks and complications. Also, that air system would work fine with just two tanks instead of 4. Just my opinion Andy
Last edited by AndyAndrews; 08-23-2016 at 04:35 PM.
#350
My Feedback: (20)
Ran cold fuel system tests before final assembly of fuse sections. This allowed me to observe all the tanks and plumbing during filling and pump operations. Everything checked out ok. Both saddle tanks emptied at nearly the same time and there were no signs of cavitation at full pump power.
After fuel system testing the airplane was fully assembled and the final CG calculated. It now shows 282mm from the leading edge with the air trap tank full and fuel tanks empty. This should be good for the first flight.
Levi, my nose gear seems to work fine. I tested it on the table and it looks like it is working well. Not sure what your problem could be. Maybe purging all the fluid and re filling the system could help.
Thanks Andy, I have always used separate air systems for gear and brake systems. This is the first jet I ever did that had "aux" air systems like the canopy and speed brakes. At this point the gear and brake systems are working well, but I have a very slow leak in the aux system. Not sure where yet. It will drop 50% over 2 hours so not to worried about it for canopy and speedbrakes. Later if I put it on a diet I could drop the third system, but not sure I would be comfortable with all the stuff on one system.
After fuel system testing the airplane was fully assembled and the final CG calculated. It now shows 282mm from the leading edge with the air trap tank full and fuel tanks empty. This should be good for the first flight.
Levi, my nose gear seems to work fine. I tested it on the table and it looks like it is working well. Not sure what your problem could be. Maybe purging all the fluid and re filling the system could help.
Thanks Andy, I have always used separate air systems for gear and brake systems. This is the first jet I ever did that had "aux" air systems like the canopy and speed brakes. At this point the gear and brake systems are working well, but I have a very slow leak in the aux system. Not sure where yet. It will drop 50% over 2 hours so not to worried about it for canopy and speedbrakes. Later if I put it on a diet I could drop the third system, but not sure I would be comfortable with all the stuff on one system.